Road construction



R. c. TAYLOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION A ril 23, 1929,

2 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Maren 6, 192

R. C. TAYLOR April 23, 1929.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION Original Filed March 6, 1926 2 s t -S1 1 0 435037, gigQ QEZ Q Patented Apr. as, 192s.

UNITED no? 0. TAYLOR, or nausea, mama.

RUAD CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed March 6, 1926, Serial No. 92,700. Renewed November 10,1928.

My invention relates to road construction, and, more particularly, aimsto provide a road or highway of increased durability and generalefficiency, and which, in accordance with theconstr-uction' and methodinvolved, may be rapidly laid out in finished condition.

In the drawings which show by way of example certain forms of myinvention and illustrate a method of practicing the same Fig. 1 is aperspective View of a section of roadway embodying one form of myinvention and constructed in accordance with a method thereof;

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail sections showing examples of securing means;

Figs. 4 to 11 inclusive are respectively vertical transverse sectionsillustrating various modified forms of construction; and

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are detail views.

It is a well known fact that even the most carefully constructed andexpensive of the modern highways are not efficient under present trafficconditions and do not stand up under wear to any extent commensurate wth their cost. They require constant attention to keep them in repairand at the best have a life of but a very few years. Replacement of suchroads generally requires complete rebuilding, again involving excavationand filling as when the road was originally built. Also, in the morenortherly parts of this country, particularly in the spring of the year,the roads are subject to the action of receding frost with resultantheaving and breaking up, often requiringcomplete resurfacing or evenrelaying of large sections of the road. No road has heretofore beendevised which is capable of withstanding this frost action, or otherwisestanding up under the severe service required of. it. v

In accordance with my invention Ipro-v pose to employ a metallic stratumor course, preferabl steel, in the form of plates along the desired pathof travel, supported by impaction either upon the native earth or groundatthe particular location involved or upon a sub-base formed byleveling, grading, rolling, filling or other foundation preparation asthe local conditions or the type of traffic may require. In carrying outthis broad principle of my invention various constructions and designsmay beemployed.

A road structure embodying my invention in the'formillustrated. in thedrawings includesone. or more rows or lines of longitudinal girder-liketie elements or beams. As shown in Fig. 1 three rows of girders or beams1 are employed, of T-shape in crosssection, placed in substantiallyparallel relation and suitably spaced. Obviously a greater orless numberof rows or lines may be provided and they may be variously spacedtransversely. The longitudinal elements in the adjacent lines arepreferably offset or staggered as seen at the pointsbroken awayin saidFig. 1, said elements in each row being rigidly secured'together in anysuitable man- 2 2, etc.

Upon the longitudinal element or elements are laid a continuous seriesof foundationcovering or base plates, plate-like members, or slabs,desirably of considerable area. Any suitable material 'of substantialstrength and rigidity may be employed for forming said plates, whether.metallic or other, but preferably they are of steel. Said surface platespreferably extend transversely of the road and may be of a length toextend across all of the longitudinal elements, as at 3, 3, etc., Fig.1, ortwo or more plates may be placed ner, as by plates and bolts asindicated at i end to end to give the desired width for the roadway, asshown at 4, fl, etc, in said figure. Sa1d plates-are secured to thelongitudinal elements 1, 1, etc., inany suitable manner, as

by bolting,.riveting, welding, or otherwise,

in Fig. 1, are slightly arched to give a low crown to the road or anycrown may be pro vided by the overlying swearing surface itself,referred to more fully hereinafter; see also Fig. 11.

- One means of attachment is illustrated in "detail in Fig. 2,comprising the'roundheaded bolts or rivets 5, 5, extending through theplates and through the horizontalflange of the girder element. The boltholes may be sufficiently enlarged to afford any slight allowancenecessary, if any, for expansion purposes. Another method of attachmentis illustrated in- Fig. 3, wherein I have shown the plates secured bycountersunk screw bolts 6, 6, enablingthe plates to be assembled orremoved without necessitating access totheir under sides.

If desired, adjoining surface plates ,or certain of them may beinterlocked in any suitable manner as, for example, by the beveledtongues 7 and corresponding recess'es8, Fig. 1. The adjoining edges ofthe plates, whether straight or interlocking, may be merely abutted asin Fig. 12, or may be provided with an overlapping joint of anysuitable'character,such as shown by Way of example in Figs. 13 and 14.Where desired, the formation of all plates may be the same, so as torequire but a single standard form of plate.

The unitary structure thus formed is laid over the native ground,sub-base or founda' tion of whatever nature and impacted with orembedded into it, said ground having previously been graded, rolled orotherwise prepared properly to receive and support said elements quicklywork down into the underlying material or are filled about by saidmaterial and the attached foundation covering or base plates arecompacted with the ground surface to provide a continuous, unitary roadformation. In this manner the superimposed layer or covering surface forthe subbase, bound together independently of the underlying ground byits longitudinal ele- 1 ments, adapts itself to the natural earth and,

as it were, formsfor itself its own foundation. As stated, said metalfoundationcovering plates are preferably steel, and desirably rolledsteel, and accordingly have the required strength but yet possesssufficient inherent flexibility available under traffic conditions toprevent cracking and breaking down of the road as in the case ofconcrete or cement roads by conforming to and impacting with thefoundation or sub-base on.

which said plates rest, and in which the metallic structure is partly orwholly imbedded. The inherent weight of the structure, together with theembedding of the several elements and the impaction of the whole withthe ground, contribute to produce a continuous and solid formation, the

solidity of which tends to be constantly increased with the passage oftraffic over it.

Desirably thesaid plates are carried down at the edges of the structure,as indicated at 9, 9, Fig. 1, slopin off upon a long curve or angleaffording a ieveled finish or shoulder for the road structure and alsoaiding in firm engagement with the ground. In some instances one or moreof the surfac plates may be pierced, as at 10, Fig. 1, to assist in thefirm engagement of the superstructure with, the un erlying ground, or toaid in binding surface materia The materials employed in my roadsuperstructure may be and preferably are of standard form andconstruction, such as the structural steel elements already availableupon-a commercial scale, or they may be of other form and are readilymanufactured for the longitudinal tie elements, I have generally foundsteel preferable; any of the known noncorrosive steels or alloys may beused to advantage. Before laying the structure, all parts, if metallic,may be coated upon their several surfaces with corrosion andweather-resisting substances, such as bitumastic, asphalt, or the like,and covered with a heavy coating of sand or other suitable protectivematerial. A similar additional coating may be applied to all exposedmetal parts when the several elements have been assembled and securedtogether in preparation for laying. Both the upper and under faces ofthe surface plates are preferably thus treated and after laying andimpacting the road formation the entire upper surface may be given I afinal coating of an asphaltic nature, generally combined with sand orother finishing substance, or, if desired, the entire road surface maybe finished off with a layer of cement, asphalt, or other surfacingmaterial,

such, for example, as indicated at 3", Fig. 11.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my invention may1 bevariously embodied, and in Figs. 4 to 11.1 ave illustrated anumber ofmodified constructions all within the broad principle of the inventionand typifying different means for practicing the method there- 'of. Insaid figures parts not otherwise referred to may be similar to thosealready described.

i As shown in Fig. 4 a series of three longitudinal'metallic elementsare employed, in this instance in the from. of I-beams 12, to which thesurface plates are secured. Said plates in this instance, or inconnection with any other form of longitudinal element, may be formedwith down-turned flanges or hooklike portions 13 at their side edges,adapted to engage the upper flanges of the beams, An adjustable spreaderit may be employed to retain the plates in locked position on the beams.a

Under varying conditions of the soil different structural formsoflongitudinal elements may be found preferable, including, in addition tothe T-beams and I-beams already mentioned, the channel form of. beamsuch as shown at 15 in Fig. 5,.or the Z-beam appearing at 16 in saidfigure. Again a beam or girder of the inverted channel form, as at 17 inFig. 6, may be preferable. As shown in said Fig. 6, the outer beams 18may have one flange omitted and the surfaceplates may be formed with adown-turned flange 19 against which the outer beams abut. Obviously manydificrent forms of longitudinal elements or combinations of forms arepossible, any of which may be found preferable,

' tions and securing means may 1 beneath the vsurface plates. Sai platesin I outer lines of longitudinal elements prethis instance are providedat their side edges with outwardly extending flanges or base portions 20adapted to rest directly upon the ground and functioning in the mannerofthe viously described. Said plates are held in propersiddby-siderelation by any suitable securing means, such as thelongitudinal rods 21 passing through eyes 22 upon the plates, or byattachment to a longitudinal plate 23. Occasionally additional orauxiliar longi: tudinal tie members may be employe in conjunction withthe main elements,-such construction being illustrated in Fig. 8. One ormore of such auxiliary members 24 may be provided at suitable positionsintermediate the main longitudinal elements 1, 1.

While I have referred above to steel or other metallic girders m.invention contemplates the use n suitabe instances of reinforcedconcrete girders, slabs or the like. Referring to Fig. 9, thelongitudinal elements 25 there shown are-of concrete construction,having set inthem the'bolts or like plate at- 'taching means" 26. 'Stillanother construction is illustrated in Fig. 10, wherein the plates areprovided with struckdown porw tions, se'curlng lips orthe'like 30,arranged either to permit the plate to be sprung over the beam or, to beslid over the flanges in the.

manner illustrated.

Occasionally a ground formation may be met which requires even furthersupport for the road structure and at such time I may employ, incombination with the superstructure, cross ties or sleepers suchasindicated at 28, Fig. 11. These may be of any suitable materialincluding metal, concrete, creosoted wood, or thelike. From theforegoing it will be understood that my invention contemplates broadlythe provision 'of a continuous or substantially continuous metal orother road stratum adapted to be supported rincipally by im paction withand embed ing in the under lying ground or sub-base.- An overlaid roadconstructed in accordance with my invention is to a lar eextentself-draining, since the substantial y continuous and impervious surfacewill prevent the entrance of surface water directly to the underlyingground- It also makes possible the use of additional subsurfacedrainage, as at any unusuall damp locality, and in a manner not practicale with road constructions hertoforeknown, as'by the positioning of farmtile or the like below the crown "of the earth foundation, and arrangedto distribute orcarry oif collecting moisture through occasionaloutlets.

A' continuous unitary superstructure such as described possesses asubstantial nherent rigidity which enables it even to resistthe bucklingand heaving effect so-frequently occurringfas the frost leaves theground in the spring of the year. Repairrequirements are.

thus reduced to a minimum, and moreover, ,due to the preferreddetachable plate construction, such repairs as may occasionally benecessary can be readily effected by the removal and replacement of'asingle plate or a series of plates at any desired point, with a minimumof labor and expense, and with little or no interruption of traflic.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiments thereof shownand described herein by way of example, and may be practiced'in otherways than b the specific means disclosed, the scope of the inventionbeing set forth' in the following claims.

Iclaim: f 1

1. In a road construction, one or more lon-.

gitudinal lines of metal beams, the beams of each-line connectedend-to-end, metal plates arranged on said beams to presenta continuoussurface lengthwise the road, said plates belng secured to the beams toprovide a uniem edded in the foundation material and to be' supported byimpaction therewith throughout substantially the entire 'undersurface-of said structure.

2. A road construction havingalong its central portion, in combinationwith a suitable base, a continuous series of metal plates,

the individual'plates being bound together tegral structure resting uponand impacting v ,wlth the underlying material over substan -t1a1ly itsentire un e rsurface, and covering means at the upper face of saidplates to provide a traffic-receiving road surface.

4. In a road, in combination with a foundation or sub-base, an.uninterrupted,rolled steel, plate-like structure and longitudinallvextending connecting meansv therefor, sai d' structure overlying andintimately contacting with saidfoundationprsub-base to constructureadapted to rest upon and be;

stitute in cooperation therewith a steel-bonded, continuous-bearing roadbase. 5. A highway construct on comprising, in

combination, a. foundation or sub-base, longitudinal beams carriedthereby anda' sub stantially continuous metal road-base supgitudinalgirders resting thereon, and a coning with the underlying material oversub-- s'tantially their entire under surface.

tinuous-bearing metal road base secured upon said girders and receivingsupport from said foundation by contact therewith over substantially theentire undersurface of the roadbase. Y

8. A highway construction comprising, in combination, a foundation orsub-base and an overlying substantially continuous flexible metallicplate-like road-base having longitudinal girder-like connectingelements, said road-base supported throughout, be tween and adjacentsaid connecting elements, by the underlying foundation.

9. A. highway construction comprising, in combination, a foundation orsub-base, lon gitudinal girders, and overlying metal roadbase plates,the several elements connected one to another to provide a unified metalroad structure, said underlying foundation fur nishing substantiallycontinuous support to the plates and girders.

10. In aroad structure, a multiplicity of metal plates, andlongitudinally extending metallic means uniting said plates into an interal structure restin u on and im act vll. In a road construction, incombination wlth a foundation or sub-base, a metallic-covsung and bindmgstructure therefor comprising an uninterrupted series of rolled steel.

plates and longitudinally continuous means connecting the same, saidstructure being impacted upon and embedded in said foundation to conformintimately thereto, and a layer of surfacing material covering saidstructure, said plates permitting local inter nal yielding or flexing ofthe structure under traflic conditions and thereby resisting crack ingand breakage, while uniting said founda tion and surfacing material intoa structurally continuous whole.

12. A road structure comprising, in combination with a foundation orsub-base, a series of steel plates arranged flatwise, longitudinal meansconnecting said plates to form a continuous steel structure impactingdirectly with the underlying foundation, said plates having downwardlyextending portions adja cent the side edges of thc road structureadditionally'to box in and confine the underlying material and aiding inthe maintenance of the road shoulder.

13. A road structure comprising a multiplicity of steel plates arrangedflatwise, one or more continuous longitudinal elements connecting saidplates, the edges of said plates being constructed and arranged toprevent curlin or "other desirable deflections thereof, an meanspreventing vertical defiection of the edges of the plates adjacent thesides of the road.

14. A road structure comprising a multiplicity of steel plates, one ormore continuous longitudinal elements connecting said plates,interlocking formations at the edges of ad joining plates to preventrelative transverse movement thereof, and other means for preventingvertical deflection of the plate edges.

15. A road construction comprising, in combination with a foundation orsub-base, a metallic integral load-sustaining structure positioned alongand directly upon said foundation, said structure including a pluralityof rows of steel beams placed end to end, 'said beams having arelatively broad horizontal portion and one or more depending flanges ofsubstantial vertical extent, means uniting the adjoining beam ends, anda continuous series of rolled steel plates upon said horizontal portionsof said beams, each late being secured to each of its underlying cams.

16. A road structure comprising, in combination, a foundation stratum orstrata of suitable road-forming material and of ade: quate weight tosustain the traffic load, a rolled sheet-metal stratum impacted upon theupper surface of said foundation stratum or strata, said metal stratumhaving a Weight and strength sufficient to prevent indentation orbending thereof in normal use, and verti-, cally flanged interconnectingmeans underlying said metal stratum and assisting to support and anchorthe same.

- stratum to confine said base stratum or strata.

18. In a road construction particularly for motorized traflic, incombination with a suitable fou'ndation', one or more series of longitudinal elements substantially wholly em-- bedded therein, and amultiplicity of rolled steel plates upon and secured to said elements toprovide a substantially integral metallic structure lengthwise the road,bearing upon and confiningsaid foundation and assisting to prevententrance of surface moisture.

In testimony whereof,

name tothis specification,

nor 0. ravton I have signed my CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,709,923. Granted April 23,1929, in

ROY c. TAYLOR.

' It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2.line 105, for the word "from" read "form"; page 4, line 70, claim'13,for the word"'desirable" read "undesirable"; same page. line 115, forclaim numeral "18" read "16'', and lines 94 and 106, for claim numerals"16 and 17" read "17 and 18''; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with these corrections therein that the samemay conform to therecord of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of May, A. D. 1929.

I M. J. Moore, (Seal) 7 Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,709,923. Granted April 23, 1929, to

ROY C. TAYLOR.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2,line 105, for the word. "from" read "form"; page 4:, line 70, claim 13,for the Word desirable" read "undesirable"; same page, line 115, forclaim numeral "18" read "16", and lines 94 and 106, for claim numerals"l6 and 17" read "17 and 18"; and that the said Letters Patent should beread with these corrections therein that the same may conform to therecord of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of May, A. D. 1929.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

